Silo-roof.



T. P. MEYER.

SILO ROOF. APPLICATION FILED APR.16, 1913.

1,106,398, Patented Aug.11,1914.

- THE NORRIS PETERS (0, FHQTO-LITHO. AASHINGTON. L) F.-

- the THOMAS F. MEYER, OF BRISTOL, WISCONSIN.

SILO-ROOF.

mosses.

ToaZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs F. MEYER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Kenosha andState of WVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Silo-Roof, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of silo roof. 1 r

An object of the present invention is to 7 provide a silo roof which mayassume a conical form and act in the capacity of a roof or Which may beassembled in the form of a hollow cylinder, in which shape it will actas an extension for the side walls of a silo.

- :A further object'is to provide a silo roof which may assume acylindrical outline so that the ensilage maybe positioned within thesilo and thereabove and allowed to set- -tle after which the roof isfolded to its with ensilage.

Nith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a partthereof, the preferable form of my invention is illusj trated in which:-j-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating my improved roof secured toa silo. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view thereof. Fig. 3represents the roof construction when inder and provides an'extensionfor the silo walls. Fig. 4: is a horizontal cross sectional view takenon thelineH of Fig. 3, the saidline being located at such point that jthe radius ofcurvatureof the upper memhers.issubstantially equalto theradius of curvature of the roof forming members. Figs. o'andti'illustrate in perspective the roof forming members. Figs. 7 and 8represent. atop and side view of l a portion of Specification of LettersPatent.

drawings.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Application filed April 1'6, 1913. Serial No. 761,538.

the roof, holding structure. Fig. 9 is a fragmental View of the roofholding structure at a point near where it joins the silo walls. Fig. 10illustrates the manner in which a ring is mounted above the upper edgeof the silo walls and secured thereto. Fig. 11 is a fragmental View of amodified form.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents thecylindrical side walls of a silo fitting over the upper edge of which isa clip member such as illustrated in Fig. 10 and which clip comprisesthe downwardly extending walls 2 and the crimped or bent portion 3 whichis adapted to engage a metallic ring 4 which ring is held concentric ofthe silo walls a slight distance above the upper extremity of the same.

The metallic ring 4L is adapted to support the silo roof thereon andprovides'means whereby the same may be secured to the edges of the silowalls. The roof supporting structure preferably made of iron comprisesthe central post 5 the lower extremity of which rests against thehorizontally X- .tending members 6 the ends of which members arefragmentally illustrated in Fig. 9

of the drawings and comprise a bifurcated portion 7 adapted to engagethe metallic ring a. Pivotally secured to the cross mem bers 6 of theroof supporting structure are the upright members 8 which are pivotallysecured at theirupper extremities to a col .lar 9, which collar isformed'integral with a sleeve 10 which is adapted to travel over thecylindrical post 5. The sleeve 10 is held in a raised position by apin-11 or other equivalent means. sleeve 10 and the upright members 8allows the entire roof supporting structure to be removed from themetallic ring at and to be lifted from the top of the silo previous tothe insertion of the ensilage therein. Y

the latter is assembled in the form of a cyl- The construction of theThe members which comprise the roof 'proper are formed in a plurality ofsections such as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the The member asillustrated in .Fig. 5' of the drawings is one of a number of members 12which are substantially trapezoidal in outline and are curved so as; :toconform with the curvature of the silo walls. To the lower extremitiesof the mem-' bers 12 are secured the members 13, one of which is shownin Fig. 5 with the central portion thereof removed to illustrate theoutstanding lugs 14 which are adapted to engage the metallic ring 4: andto secure the member 12 thereto. The outstanding portion 15 is adaptedto contact with the side.

walls 1 of the silo and to form an air-tight joint therewith such asillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A flat metallic ring 16 issecured to the roof supporting members 8 and against which is adapted tocontact the upper extremities of the trapezoidal members 12. Theremaining portion of the roof is formed by means of the triangularmembers 17 which are provided with the clownwardly extending portion 18which is adapted to contact with the upper or smaller ends of thetrapezoidal members 12 to forma seal joint therewith. The members 17 areadapted to contact and be supported by the metallic ring or band 16 andthe upper ends of the said members 17 meet at the apex of the roof 19,at which point a metallic cone 20 is secured which holds the saidmembers 17 in position and provides an air-tight or seal jointtherewith. The members 12 and 17 are formed with grooved edges asillustrated and which provides that the said members will form astructure and will when assembled in position, form an airtight roof.

It will be noted in this connection that other means may be utilizedthan the tongue and groove to effect a tight joint between the variousmembers 12 and the member 17, as it is thought will be readilyappreciated.

When it is desired to fill the silo to which my improved structure hasbeen secured, the cap 20 is removed from the upper portion of the roofand the members 17 removed one by one, after which the members 12 aremoved upwardly so as to be disengaged from the adjoining members and themembers 12 are then rotated upon the ring 4., being mounted for suchrotation by the outstanding lugs 14 illustrated in Fig. 5, until saidmembers lie substantially parallel to the side walls of the silo withwhich they contact as illustrated in Fig. 3. The members 17 are thenpositioned between the members 12 with the vertex thereof pointingdownward so as to form a circular wall as illustrated in Fig. 3 andwhich is in fact a continuation of the silo side walls, it being notedthat the roof supporting structure which includes the post 5, the crossmembers 6 and the inclined members 8 may be removed from the siloprevious to the positioning of the members 12 and 17 as per Fig. 3. Thesilo may now be filled and it is noted that a decided in- V 17. Themembers 12 and 17 are maintained crease in the capacity thereof isobtained and that ensilage may be piled to the top of the extensionformed by the members 12 and in this position until such time as theensilage settles below the upper edge of the walls 1 atwhich time theroof supporting strucring 1 and the band 16 positioned thereon and themembers 12 and 17 then returned to their original positions to form aconlcal roof structure, which it is to be' noted will form an air-tightjuncture with the side walls of the silo. I I

In order that the roof formed by the members 12 and 17 may be heldrigidly in place, a'ring 21 is provided with a turn buckle 22 and thesaid ring is adapted to fit within suitable grooves 28 formed in themembers 12 and 17 as illustrated. In order members 12 and 17 when in aroof forming position, will be air-tight, a band 2 L isflpo+ i sitionedthereon as more clearly shown in Fig.2. In Fig. 1 of the-drawings adormer window 25 has been illustratedas being secured to one of themembers 12 and it is to be understood that such changes may be madewithin the scope of the presentinvention.

When the silo wall is of considerable thickness, the clip member 2 asillustrated in r Fig. 11 is used in which the metallic ring 4 is setadjacent the inner surface of the silo wall. Attention is also called tothe fact that in this modified form the members 12 and 17 rest directlyupon the clip member 2' i so as to present a smooth and continuous surface with the silo wall. The members 13 and the outstanding lugs 14: areremoved and a hoop-shaped band 15 inserted in place thereof. Mention isalso made ofthe fact that the members 12 and 17 may be made of metalshould it be so desired. J

Having thus described the invention what I claim to be new and originalwith me is 1. A-silo roof comprising trapezoidal and triangulardetachable members, adapted to form interchangeably, a conical roof, anda cylindrical wall.

2. The combination with a silo of a roof supporting structure securedthereto, trapetallic ring substantially equal in diameter to thediameter of the siloside wall and detachably supported a slight distancethereabove, a roof supporting structure comprising a central post,horizontal'members se-' cured to said post and engaging and supported bysaid ring, a sleeve journaled upon said post, and roof supportingmembers piv-j otally secured to said sleeve and to said' horizontalmembers. I

1. The combination with a silo, of a roof supporting structure securedthereto, roof. forming members detachably securedto said and groovesroof supporting structure, the said roof forming members provided Withtongues adapted to interlock to form a sealed roof, said members adaptedto interengage to form a cylindrical Wall extension for said silo, andmeans cylindrical Wall extension tion. a a i 5. The combination with asilo, of a metallic ring mounted thereabove trapezoidal members providedwith outstanding lugs adapted to rotatably engage said ring, a

for holding said rigidly in posiroof supporting structure detachablysecured to said ring and adaptedto hold said trapezoidal members in aroof forming position, triangular members supported by said roofsupporting structure abutting the upper extremities of said trapezoidalmembers and meeting in an apex to thereby form a continuous conicalroof, said trapezoidal members adapted to rotate upon said ring to avertical position, said triangular members adapted to interengage saidtrapezoidal members to thereby form a cylindrical Wall extension of saidsilo.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS F. MEYER.

Witnesses:

W. P. FINK, CHARLES E. TURNOCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

